WWE 2K22 will be the first game in the series since WWE 2K20 launched in late 2019. 2K Sports and Visual Concepts decided to take a year off from the series and canceled WWE 2K21 after the lackluster reception of 2K20's unstable release. With a year break for the series, fans of the franchise are hoping that WWE 2K22 will be worth the wait. So far, there has only been one gameplay clip shown, which makes it difficult to get an impression of the game just yet. This will be a critical release in the series, and fans are hoping it'll be a major improvement over the last game.
When it was released, WWE 2K20 was considered to be subpar. Its graphics were widely considered to be underwhelming, and it had numerous technical issues. The game was patched and received notable improvements, though this was unfortunately not the end of the issues with the game. WWE 2K20 developed a New Year's bug, which caused the game to be unplayable for a significant portion of players. Gamers are hoping that Visual Concepts can address these issues while advancing the series.
WWE 2K22 As More Than Just the Next Iteration
One of the most important things for Visual Concepts is to fix the issues seen before in WWE 2K22. WWE 2K20 came under fire from fans and critics for its outdated visuals and poor technical performance. For many fans, this is a baseline improvement that should be expected in the next game. Beyond just fixing the issues the franchise has experienced before, a lot of WWE 2K fans are hoping to see something more from this year's iteration. It would be considered a step in the right direction to address the technical issues from WWE 2K20, but Visual Concepts are hopefully bringing more than just overhauled visuals to the table.
While there are some inherent differences between the games, the WWE 2K series has felt repetitive for some fans for years. It's hard to tell from WWE 2K22's debut trailer how the game will play, but some changes to its core gameplay could help the game feel fresh. Notably, reversals and animations have been the same, or at least looked the same, for years now.
Changing up the reversal system would help the gameplay play out differently, while a new set of animations could help it look smoother. Discounting the bugs, WWE 2K20 played quite well in some fans' eyes, but some quality of life changes to the reversal system and its animations could help prevent the game from feeling tired or stale.
New and Returning Features in WWE 2K22
One of the most often requested features for WWE games is the General Manager Mode. For WWE 2K22, this is no different, and fans have made it clear that they want to see the game mode return. With three brands at Visual Concepts' disposal, it could be the perfect time to bring it back. Gamers loved engaging in brand vs. brand warfare from the perspective of running the show, and the mode's return would be universally welcomed. 2K Sports and Visual Concepts are reportedly taking fan feedback seriously, so perhaps there is a chance that GM Mode could return this year.
One of the best ways that WWE 2K22 can show its worth after a year away is by taking fan feedback on board. On numerous fan websites, gamers have made it clear what they want to see, and it's hard to argue with some of the top-requested features. WWE 2K fans are looking to past games for their requested features. Some of the most sought-after additions for this year's game include bringing back match types, more WWE legends, and more customization options. 2K Sports have reportedly been transparent in their communication with fan forums, which could be an encouraging sign of the company taking feedback seriously.
Fixing the issues of the past games is one thing, but 2K Sports and Visual Concepts should be looking to bring the series forward. Fans of the series are excited about the possibility of GM Mode and other features returning in WWE 2K22. 2K Sports have released behind-the-scenes videos of the game's development, which, hopefully, indicates a new direction for the game. The series could win some fans back by not only fixing previous issues but listening to fans and reintroducing some of their favorite wrestling game features.
WWE 2K22 is set for release at some point in 2021.